Letter: Questions hiring of architect, lobbyist

Editor: Last time I checked there was no shortage of architects working in St. Johns County. Why then did board members for the Anastasia Mosquito Control District decides to pay an out-of-county firm to assist the staff with working up a design for a new $3 million dollar headquarters to be constructed off State Road 16, near Interstate 95?

Why didn't the board find a local architectural firm capable instead of a firm from Jacksonville? It seems worth noting that the vote on the matter, taken on January 15, was not unanimous. Two of the five board members were opposed.

Does it not make better sense to keep all the money, involved in designing a project of this magnitude, at home? Why not pay architects, who spend their money and pay taxes in St. Johns County, to assist the staff rather than out-of-towners, to assist with the design work?

Finally, I question why the board felt the need to approve a $3,000 a month contract with a lobbyist, members say is needed to assist the district's staff in securing government grants to help with the cost of constructing the new headquarters.

What's next? I wonder if the board really can afford this kind of help. If it has extra money, why not pour it directly into the construction fund for the new home base?

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That firm has designed numerous other buildings for St Johns County government so they figured they had the experience and knowledge to be able to design their building effectively and quickly. Why they need a $6 million dollar building to kill mosquitoes is another question.